Predictors of diabetes mellitus and abnormal blood glucose in patients receiving opioid maintenance treatment.

Background: Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist and may have less impact on the risk of developing diabetes mellitus (DM) compared to full opioid agonists like methadone.

Methods: We conducted an observational retrospective study to investigate the predictable factors for impaired glucose tolerance and predisposition to DM in two groups of opiate addicts receiving long-term methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) [n = 58] or buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT) [n = 61].

Results: In our cohort, being African American, hepatitis C positive status, elevated AST, and ALT, and being on methadone were significantly correlated to being diagnosed with DM.

Predictors of substance abuse treatment outcome in hospitalized veterans.

Background And Objectives: Historically patients consulted for the substance abuse treatment from the medical surgical floors have a very low show rate for the substance abuse treatment. The authors performed retrospective chart review to find predictors of substance abuse treatment outcome in hospitalized veterans at Atlanta VA Medical Center.

Methods: The medical records from all the patients who were admitted to the medical/surgical floor with substance abuse consults from January-December 2009 were reviewed.

Impact of adjuvant radiotherapy on survival after pancreatic cancer resection: an appraisal of data from the national cancer data base.

Purpose: The impact of adjuvant radiotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) remains controversial. We examined effects of adjuvant therapy on overall survival (OS) in PAC, using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB).

Methods: Patients with resected PAC from 1998 to 2002 were queried from the NCDB.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal carriage in residents of Veterans Affairs long-term care facilities: role of antimicrobial exposure and MRSA acquisition.

Objective: To identify risk factors associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) acquisition in long-term care facility (LTCF) residents.

Design: Multicenter, prospective cohort followed over 6 months.

Setting: Three Veterans Affairs (VA) LTCFs.

High-dose citalopram for cocaine dependence in veteran population-a pilot project.

Cocaine dependence continues to be a highly prevalent disorder, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Numerous medications have been investigated as potential adjunctive therapeutic measures, but with minimal success. None have been given Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of cocaine dependence.

Fracture assessment tool risk scores in bone density reports do not change physician prescribing behavior for osteoporosis.

Introduction: Prevention of osteoporotic fractures is desirable to decrease morbidity, mortality and health care costs. The World Health Organization Fracture Assessment Tool (FRAX) enhances physician treatment decisions by combining epidemiologic fracture risk calculations with bone density. The authors sought to determine the effect of reporting FRAX results and treatment recommendations in bone density reports on clinician prescribing behavior.

On-site Basic Health Screening and Brief Health Counseling of Chronic Medical Conditions for Veterans in Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

BACKGROUND: In order to improve the delivery of health services for chronic medical conditions in our methadone clinic, we added an onsite health screening and brief health counseling to the treatment plans for patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). We then conducted a follow up retrospective chart review to assess whether this intervention improved health outcome for those patients. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of one hundred and two patients who received treatment at Atlanta VAMC methadone clinic between 2002 and 2008.

A multicenter analysis of distal pancreatectomy for adenocarcinoma: is laparoscopic resection appropriate?

Background: As compared with open distal pancreatectomy (ODP), laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) affords improved perioperative outcomes. The role of LDP for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is not defined.

Study Design: Records from patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy (DP) for PDAC from 2000 to 2008 from 9 academic medical centers were reviewed.

Onsite QTc interval screening for patients in methadone maintenance treatment.

To improve the electrocardiogram screening process and early detection of patients at high risk for cardiac arrhythmias, the authors created a model in their clinic where they provided an onsite electrocardiogram screening that might be feasible and practical. The authors then performed a retrospective chart review to access the efficacy and feasibility of their new onsite procedure in identifying methadone maintained patients at high risk for cardiac arrhythmias. Records from all patients who are currently or had previously been maintained on methadone in the methadone maintenance program at the Atlanta VA Medical Center between 2002 and 2009 were evaluated.

Left-sided pancreatectomy: a multicenter comparison of laparoscopic and open approaches.

Objectives: To compare perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic left-sided pancreatectomy (LLP) with traditional open left-sided pancreatectomy (OLP) in a multicenter experience.

Summary And Background Data: LLP is being performed more commonly with limited data comparing results with outcomes from OLP.

Methods: Data from 8 centers were combined for all cases performed between 2002-2006.